2001 LS1 Camaro SS barn find
#21
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Oh, drain and fill clutch fluid too
#23
TECH Fanatic
Where did you find it?
Do you mind sharing how much you paid, even if it's just a ballpark number?
Do you mind sharing how much you paid, even if it's just a ballpark number?
#28
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I'm going to differ here and say I wouldn't rush to change anything except the oil, tires and maybe the coolant - unless you know that the previous owner changed the oil recently. Then I wouldn't even do that. Tires are a must because of age-induced dry rot. The other items are inspection matters. After driving it around, is the coolant crystal clear? is there sludge on the dipstick in the recovery tank? If the answer is yes/no I might just leave it alone. You can do a visual on the serpentine. Any sign of dryness or cracking? Then decide. I wouldn't touch the wires or plugs or anything else unless there is evidence of missing. Run a good fuel system cleaner (I like Techron) through a full tank of gas and you should be good to go.
#30
Tires brand new Saturday. Oil on way, Amsoil. Coolant too, yes looks old might be original. I'll change that anyway. Serpentine and all else look good to go. Plugs, wires seem excellent. Car runs fantastic. I did pick it up on fumes, immediately put about a half tank of ethanol free gas, $3.80 a gallon which I'll run in it all the time anyway too. Thank you
I'm going to differ here and say I wouldn't rush to change anything except the oil, tires and maybe the coolant - unless you know that the previous owner changed the oil recently. Then I wouldn't even do that. Tires are a must because of age-induced dry rot. The other items are inspection matters. After driving it around, is the coolant crystal clear? is there sludge on the dipstick in the recovery tank? If the answer is yes/no I might just leave it alone. You can do a visual on the serpentine. Any sign of dryness or cracking? Then decide. I wouldn't touch the wires or plugs or anything else unless there is evidence of missing. Run a good fuel system cleaner (I like Techron) through a full tank of gas and you should be good to go.
#31
Thanks. Car was sitting in Museum in TN from 2001 - 2017. Driven twice yearly, cranked monthly. Last owner cranked and ran every couple months the last 2 years. No lifter noise currently.
#32
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Even if the car had been driven daily the valve springs would be getting weak from being so old.
They may be fine, but there's a lot of threads where guys find they have weak valve springs with low mileage LS cars. It's not just an LS thing, it's a every engine thing.
The running it every month certainly helps, but they are still 18 years old and have done a lot of sitting compressed. When the engine stops some of the springs are fully compressed (as fully as the cam pushes them) or close to it. Spring steel weakens over time of a load being on it. Ever put a new set of replacement springs on a car and noticed it sits an inch higher? It's not always because something is up with the new springs.
Besides all of that, springs wear out anyway.
I'm not saying you have to replace them, you don't. But if you ask whats gonna be worn after all these years, that's one of the things.
#34
TECH Senior Member
A set of LS6 springs will easily get the job done, improve on original even, and are cheap. I would do that sooner than later for peace of mind.
#35
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A great part about them is a set is only $70 too. I broke 8 of 16 of my original LS1 springs back about 9 years ago. The car was a 2000 YM. It broke the tips of the valve spring off up at the retainer. It was super weird. I found I think 7 of them on the oil pan drain plug magnet. The last piece never showed up and that motor went for years after that too until someone totalled the car, never had an issue.
#37
TECH Senior Member